The journey to Etherevalis ended beneath silver leaves.
The capital had prepared for days.
Banners of emerald and silver hung from every tower. Fresh flower petals covered the marble streets leading toward the palace. Citizens crowded balconies, rooftops, and every open window overlooking the Royal Promenade.
Word had spread long before the caravan arrived.
The Lost Princess had returned.
And she had not returned alone.
At the top of the palace steps stood King Thalorien Silverthorne and Queen Lysara Silverthorne of the Silverbough Throne.
Neither spoke.
Neither needed to.
After nearly a year away from home...
Their daughter was finally returning.
The royal carriage rolled to a gentle stop.
Silence settled over the crowd.
Commander Vaelrith Moonshadow stepped down first.
His daughter, Dawnaris, followed beside him, along with the rest of the Royal Veil.
The elite operatives formed a respectful corridor beside the carriage.
Only then did another figure emerge.
A tall blond-haired human.
Black trench coat.
Polished dragon-scale armor beneath.
Jax Darquebane.
Thalorien watched carefully.
This was the man.
The merchant.
The adventurer.
The one who had somehow transformed half the continent.
The one engaged to his daughter...
...and three other women.
Jax stepped onto the stone.
Then immediately turned around.
He reached back into the carriage.
"Llandra."
His voice wasn't loud.
Just gentle.
Llandra accepted his hand.
He steadied her effortlessly as she stepped onto the marble.
Only after she stood comfortably did he offer the same hand again.
"Zee."
She smiled warmly as she accepted.
Then Bunny.
Then Nyxian.
Each woman exited with dignity.
Each received the exact same quiet attention.
No rushing.
No flourish.
No audience.
Only after every one of them stood safely beside him did Jax finally turn toward the palace.
Queen Lysara noticed immediately.
Interesting...
Not once had the young man looked toward the throne.
Not once had he acknowledged the assembled nobility.
Not once had he attempted to impress anyone.
His attention had remained entirely on the women traveling with him.
Making certain each left the carriage safely.
Without fanfare.
Without expectation.
Simply because...
...that was apparently what one did.
A small smile touched the Queen's lips.
She glanced toward her husband.
Thalorien had noticed as well.
Neither spoke.
They didn't need to.
Llandra looked toward her mother just long enough to recognize the expression.
She knows...
The realization warmed her heart.
She had seen that look countless times growing up.
Her mother approved.
Not of Jax's wealth.
Not of his accomplishments.
But of the kind of man he appeared to be.
Llandra's smile became impossible to hide.
The herald struck the marble floor with his ceremonial staff.
"Her Royal Highness, Princess Llandra Silverthorne of the House of Silverthorne, returns to Etherevalis!"
The city erupted.
Cheers echoed across the capital.
Petals filled the air.
Llandra instinctively looked toward the Vixens.
She gave the smallest nod.
Wave.
The four women smiled and waved to the crowd.
The cheers only grew louder.
Stories had traveled faster than caravans.
The Vixens were already becoming legends.
Together, they began ascending the grand staircase.
Llandra beside Jax.
Nyxian chatting happily with Dawn.
Bunny waving enthusiastically at every child she spotted.
Zee smiling shyly as people called her name.
The Queen watched all of it.
Not one rivalry.
Not one jealous glance.
Only genuine affection between the women.
Curious...
Very curious.
By the time they reached the top of the stairs, the atmosphere shifted.
Every member of the Royal Veil dropped to one knee.
The palace guards followed.
The nobles bowed.
Llandra lowered herself gracefully.
The Vixens followed her lead.
Ten thousand citizens knelt throughout the capital.
Jax took one more step.
Stopped.
Looked around.
"...Well."
That explains the silence.
He stepped forward.
Extended his hand.
"Jax Darquebane."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Several nobles looked physically ill.
Vaelrith closed his eyes for exactly one heartbeat.
Dawn stared at the floor, desperately trying not to smile.
Llandra kept her eyes lowered.
Please...
Please understand...
King Thalorien looked at the outstretched hand.
Then at the young man wearing an earnest smile.
Not arrogance.
Not disrespect.
Just...
...a greeting.
The King's smile spread slowly across his face.
Before anyone could react...
He stepped forward.
And clasped Jax's forearm in a firm warrior's grip.
"King Thalorien Silverthorne."
His grip tightened.
"Welcome to Etherevalis."
Jax smiled.
"Pleasure to finally meet you."
Only then did he glance sideways.
Every person in the kingdom was still kneeling.
...
"Oh."
That was... probably important.
The King caught the flicker of realization.
His smile widened.
Queen Lysara stepped forward with effortless grace.
She extended her hand.
Jax accepted it instinctively.
Halfway through the handshake...
His brain finally connected several missing pieces.
Right.
Royalty.
He gently lifted her hand.
Bowed his head.
Placed a respectful kiss upon her knuckles.
The transition wasn't elegant.
It wasn't practiced.
It was simply sincere.
Queen Lysara's eyes softened.
"My daughter chose well," she said quietly.
Only Jax heard it.
He blinked.
"Thank you."
There was no rehearsed response.
No polished diplomacy.
Just gratitude.
The Queen liked him even more for it.
King Thalorien turned toward the crowd.
"Rise."
Ten thousand people obeyed.
Jax remained standing.
Mostly because he had never actually knelt.
The King noticed.
He chuckled softly.
"So," Thalorien said as they began walking toward the palace doors, "I take it court etiquette was never part of your education?"
Jax rubbed the back of his neck.
"...I'm getting that impression."
Llandra covered her mouth, trying—and failing—to hide a laugh.
Even Vaelrith's shoulders relaxed.
The tension dissolved.
Not because protocol had been followed.
But because everyone present had recognized the difference between ignorance...
...and disrespect.
One could be taught.
The other could not.
As the palace doors opened before them, Queen Lysara slipped her hand gently around her husband's arm.
Without looking away from Jax, she spoke quietly enough that only the King could hear.
"He never once tried to impress us."
"No," Thalorien agreed.
"He was too busy making sure our daughter—and the women beside her—never had to struggle climbing out of that carriage."
Lysara smiled.
"That's the first thing I noticed."
Thalorien looked at the young man walking beside Llandra.
He had expected a powerful adventurer.
A wealthy merchant.
Perhaps even an ambitious politician.
Instead...
His first impression was of a man whose instincts placed the women in his care before kings and queens.
The King found that surprisingly difficult not to admire.
And for reasons Jax would never fully understand...
He had already passed the first test.
Not because he knew royal protocol.
But because he had forgotten royalty existed long enough to simply be himself.